In 2015, I Hereby Resolve To:

 

2015 Resolutions

1. Travel more. I am 27 right now and I really have not seen the world. I have not even seen the west coast. This is a resolution I will actually accomplish as I am going to Cabo in April for my cousin’s wedding. It will be the first non-English speaking country I’ve been to. The only other country I have visited is Canada, so yay going new places. I also want to have road trips too.

2. Actually apply to grad school. I make this resolution every year and make a little more progress. I think 2015 is the bite I need to finally finish the application and see what happens from there.

3. Run 100 outdoor miles. After the Turkey Trot, I realized that I am probably going to die of an asthma attack in my next 5k unless I get into the habit of running outside, in nature, and not on a treadmill.

4. Finish Storm Of Swords by George RR Martin. Friends, last year was the first year that I have not finished a GRRM book in 3 years. What even. I really want to watch the whole series and I still don’t know what the Red Wedding is. So, at this rate of a book or so per year, I will probably finish reading the series just as it’s wrapped up.

5.  Learn the fine art of DNF. Too much of 2014 was spent reading books that just did not do it for me. I really have got to get better at DNFing and just giving up on books that aren’t working.

6. Cull at least 150 booksThis is a goal I make every year, but honestly, decluttering is important to me and so is distribution. Each book that I bring into work either goes into the hands of a client or a coworker and then usually is spread beyond that. To me, that’s awesome. It’s like I am spreading literacy in my own small way. So, I want to donate a whole lot more.

7. Spring clean my wardrobe. I have so many articles of clothing that I never ever wear, because I buy them with optimism and I bring it home and it just doesn’t go with anything or look as good as I thought. I really want to fill a bag with clothes and get rid of them and then go shopping.

8. Spend more time with family and friends. Here’s the thing, most of my life for the past few years was spent in the majority of the company of one person or at work. I used to be bright and vivacious and awesome. You know those people with charisma? I am one of those people. However, it’s like I lost that spark. It’s like I focused so intensely on one person that I ended up isolating myself. This year, I am absolutely going to form stronger bonds and make better memories with the people in my life.

9. Try 10 new types of wine. Seriously, I just stick to the tried and true types, Sutter Home White Zinfandel and Lucas Tugboat Red. This year I am going to try 10 new brands and hopefully discover a new favorite.

10. Start a gratitude journal. I think I read somewhere on facebook that people who cultivate gratitude are happier people in general. I have not really been as happy as I could be for a very long time now. It’s hard to come to terms with that, but hey, there it is. This year, I think I am going to try and find one thing to be thankful for every single day. Even if it’s a kind tweet or a someone holding the door open for me.

11. Read one non-fiction book per month. I just really love non-fiction and learning. I think that having knowledge about different things makes someone a more interesting person, and while yes I am interesting enough as it is, I want to be even more interesting. Also, I think I’d like to learn more about different historical periods and figures as well as finally dive into The Happiness Project among other things.

12. Eat clean at least one day per week. Let’s be serious, my diet is mostly processed foods, meat and cheese. Also, pasta. I am going to try and eat healthier, but I want to actually be able to accomplish this goal and not decide on something that would be totally impossible for me to do which would be to eat clean all the time. I can’t let my love affair with pizza go, that would be horrible.

13. Sign up and complete at least two 5k’s. I think that Cassie could help me with this one, because participating in a 5k alone is boring. Also, I think I am going to draft one of my good friends into participating in a 5k with me.

14. Put 100,000 miles on my car. I know this is silly, but I am at 88,000 miles now and if I only ever went to work and back that would come out to only 6,275 miles. I need to fill the rest of my car miles with fun adventures and road trips and it really does tie into those other resolutions. I should probably also resolve right now to get regular oil changes instead of putting them off until I get scared my car is going to catch on fire. #Adulting

15. Respond to emails in a more timely manner. 2014 was the year of slacking for me. Of course, we all know I had a really good reason for everything to fall behind, starting with my nervous breakdown and then my life change event. I fell behind on communications and what better time to parse down the inbox and strengthen my network than New Year’s.

16. Live with intention. I think I spend a lot of time just coasting through life, living for the weekend, where even on the weekend I don’t really fully participate in whatever I have going on. This year, I think I want to put my phone away more and just be present in the moment. This is a bit different from my normal goals as typically I try to make them quantifiable and easy to accomplish, but you know, this is one that is really important to me.

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April is in her 30s and created Good Books And Good Wine. She works for a non-profit. April always has a book on hand. In her free time she can be found binge watching The Office with her husband and toddler, spending way too much time on Pinterest or exploring her neighborhood.
About April (Books&Wine)

April is in her 30s and created Good Books And Good Wine. She works for a non-profit. April always has a book on hand. In her free time she can be found binge watching The Office with her husband and toddler, spending way too much time on Pinterest or exploring her neighborhood.

Comments

  1. April, I think these are all really great, attainable goals! I especially love your idea for a gratitude journal. It’s always nice to have something to go to when you’re having an especially bad day and need something to remind you what is important. Good luck with your resolutions and here’s to an amazing 2015!!

  2. That’s quite the list of goals! I do hope you get to accomplish it all, especially applying to grad school! I’m very big on education, and hope to reapply once I meet the requirements for my program.

    I want to read more nonfiction too! I read three last year, but I hope to get to more than that this year.

  3. April – I think all of these are so awesome! Honestly, I think if you accomplish 1-15 then you can quantify living with intention. I turned 30 this year and I can honestly say my 20s were pretty awesome. A large part of that was traveling, learning to run/race, letting go of clutter (physical and mental), and realizing that my free time is valuable (DNF away!). I wish you the best and Happy New Year! 🙂

  4. I’m not a wine drinker by nature but I do like Rieslings. The best brand I’ve had? Relax. I would recommend that one.

  5. It’s like you stepped into my life! I have some of the same goals too. 2015 is going to be an awesome year. Good luck!!

  6. Those are all such great goals for 2015!

    Here’s a rec for a new wine to try: Concha Y Toro’s Frontera Pinot Grigio. Ohmahgawd. When it’s chilled it is divine. It’s a Chilean wine and it is so lovely and you’ll finish an entire bottle before you know it.

    As for DNFing, it’s something we all need to do more. I have no problem doing it but I actually haven’t done as much of it in the last year.

    Good Luck on getting through your list, April! 😀

  7. Candice @ The Grown-Up YA says

    Wonderful goals! I wish you all the luck with them.

    About a year ago I did a small group that read 1000 Gifts by Ann Voskamp. It’s a Christian book but one of the things the author did was keep a journal where she wrote down gifts God gave her. Her goal was to write down 1000 over a year. ANYWAY the group leaders gave us small journals to do this in and while i didn’t make it to 1000 it was so wonderful writing down things I was grateful for. The best thing was going back and reading them when I was having a bad day; made me feel so much better. I hope this is a goal you accomplish and enjoy!

    Also, YES! to more wine and travel! Happy new year!

  8. Great goals, April. YOU CAN DO IT!!

  9. Great goa8l clearly well thought out. I can’t to see more from you thus heat. I swear we all go through the isolating phase I did it after college. Its a struggle to get out of the routine and embrace changes so don’t beat yourself up. Can’t wait until Bea 2015. This time I resolve to meet you in the flesh lol

  10. These are wonderful resolutions, April. 2014 was a tough year for me, too, but I am feeling really inspired for 2015, and I also want to live my life with more intention. That’s such a great goal.

  11. Yes pleaseeee let us encourage each other over the DNF situation. Ain’t nobody got time to waste on books we don’t like.

    Love these challenges and how balanced they are. Good luck, April!